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Home My WebLink About07/23/2001 - Minutes Renton Airport Advisory Committee July 23, 2001 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm Seventh floor meeting room, Renton City Hall Councilmember Persson opened the meeting by announcing that Gail Reed, the airport supervisor resigned. 1. Feedback from Airport Tours- Most members thought that the tour was helpful in understanding airport uses. 2. New Questions Many of the answers (below) can be amplified by those most involved, but that this has not happened yet. Q: What is the status of the city-owned tie downs? A: There are forty spaces that the City manages. Six spaces are for transient aircraft. Another fifteen spaces are being leased on a monthly basis. Q: What is the situation with regard to U.S. Customs Services at the airport? A: The airport operators are working with Customs and have indicated that there is a continued need for Customs services. The City Council authorized a letter to be sent assuring that facilities will be provided. INS-related border issues are unresolved at this time. Q: What can the (contract) FAA tower do to assist on noise abatement flying techniques? A: FAA and its contractors have no formal role in voluntary noise abatement activities. The Tower Chief could be invited to a Renton Airport Advisory Committee (RAAC) meeting. FAA has two groups that deal with this — Flight Standards addresses safety, and Air Traffic Control addresses operations in the air. There is a goal to publish the Renton procedures in the airport facility directory, and FAA must be consulted first. Q: Who sets the flight pattern for touch-and-goes? A: All airports have a standard pattern that is modified for special considerations of terrain. Aircraft fly the same patterns at Renton at all times, landing from the north or the south depending on wind direction and cutting a fairly wide swath over the adjacent areas. The Tower and general safety procedures call for 3,000' spacing between aircraft so that each can exit the runway before the next arrives. Q: Could we have a briefing on the flight patterns for all the airports around Renton? A: Will schedule some time in the fall if possible. Q: After 4:30 PM when the airport manager is gone for the day, how does the city control itinerant operations i.e. flights from other fields? A: This is not in the airport manager's purview—he or she may investigate complaints, but they do not control how people fly. Q: What is the status of the proposed noise abatement runway/taxiway signs? A: The signs are made and airport maintenance staff is in the process of installing them. Q: Who regulates the hours and flight activities of the flight schools? A: This is not a regulated activity. Q: Why are lease revenues falling at the airport according to the financial chart that was passed out? A: Boeing gave up some space but because there is a 45-day vacate notice; subtenants are reluctant to occupy it. Boeing also indicates that the moratorium prevented them from completing sub-lease arrangmeents with viable occupants. Also, the City took over some tie-downs and these have not become fully occupied. Q: Does airport lease revenue cover the costs of running the airport? A: The airport depends heavily on FAA grants for its capital needs, which could not currently be covered out of lease revenues. Q: Why have airport operating costs gone up so much since 1998? A: The operating expenses for 1998 were $525,126, and are $703,500 in 2001, for a difference of $178,374. The bulk of the increases are made up of; $18,000 (new mower); $21,000 (salary/benefit); $30,000 (airfield supplies-bird control devises); $20,000 (insurance); and $20,000 (equipment rental). The remainder would be from normal cost increases figured automatically by Finance. The airport is run with an airport supervisor and a few other positions including two maintenance workers (one regular position with the other being a full time temporary position) and several part time temporary (seasonal)positions that conduct bird harassment and also do limited maintenance. Q: Why is the airport not making more money? A: We need to research this, but it appears that the airport budget is very healthy with around $3,000,000 in the reserve fund. Q: Does Boeing provide services to the airport or the community? A: Mutual aid fire services on and off the field. They maintain the checkered blast fence at the south end of the runway. Q: Is the City Council really the Airport Board? A: There is no formal Airport Board. The Transportation and Aviation Committee of the Council is defined as where the airport facility reports. Note: the responses to these questions will be researched more fully and added to the existing questions. 3. Election of Chair Two candidates stood for election — Jim Poff and David Kotker. Jim was elected and David was asked to assist with aviation inputs. 4. Airport Deed and Financial Handout These documents were reviewed and clarified. Additional questions can be addressed at the next meeting. 5. Airport Business Plan The facilitator's firm, Hanson professional Services, is also doing the airport business plan. Julie Rodwell handed out a flow diagram explaining how the work will come together. There was discussion of the Committee's role in reviewing the 50% draft. Committee members will be provided with a more detailed briefing when the draft is ready, and will be asked to respond to areas with which they are comfortable. 6. Next Meeting The next meeting of the RAAC was set for August 27 at 5:30 to 7 PM in the HR Training room (7�h floor). In addition, a special meeting on the airport business plan has been set for September 4�h, for the same time and place. The 50% report will be passed out August 27 and mailed to any committee members and alternates not able to be present.